Police Officer. Tony Zeppetella was born in Whittier, California and raised in Paso Robles, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Paso Robles High School in 1994, serving until 2000, his ship was the USS John C. Stennis CVN 74. While serving as Petty Officer 2nd Class and work center supervisor, Tony attended Central Texas College from March 1998 to May 2000. When he was honorably discharged from the Navy he continued his education from July 2000 to August 2001, at the University of Phoenix and worked for Bally Total Fitness as a personal trainer and nutrition counselor. Tony hired on to the Oceanside Police Department May 13, 2002, he graduated from the police academy in October 2002 and spent six months with a field training officer before starting to work on his own. He was fatally shot Friday afternoon June 13, 2003, during a routine traffic stop. His funeral June 20, 2003, was attended by US Marine and Navy honor guards and law agencies from across the nation. Also the funeral motorcade route was lined with thousands of people showing tribute and support to a fallen public service hero who was respected and well known as a fine person. Officer Tony Zeppetella lived in Oceanside for 5 years, his wife Jamie, son Jakob. His father Tony Sr, mother Renate, brother George and sister Renate survive him. He was only the second officer to be killed in the line of duty in Oceanside Police Department history. In August 2004, the California State Assembly passed order ACR No. 133 to make a portion of state route Hwy 76 a designated highway in his memory. On January 5, 2005, a dedication ceremony was held at the Oceanside Police faculty displaying the highway signs making a section of State Hwy 76 Oceanside, Tony Zeppetella Memorial Highway in his honor. Tony was inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame and posthumously awarded the Policeman's Medal of Honor on August 23, 2006.
Police Officer. Tony Zeppetella was born in Whittier, California and raised in Paso Robles, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Paso Robles High School in 1994, serving until 2000, his ship was the USS John C. Stennis CVN 74. While serving as Petty Officer 2nd Class and work center supervisor, Tony attended Central Texas College from March 1998 to May 2000. When he was honorably discharged from the Navy he continued his education from July 2000 to August 2001, at the University of Phoenix and worked for Bally Total Fitness as a personal trainer and nutrition counselor. Tony hired on to the Oceanside Police Department May 13, 2002, he graduated from the police academy in October 2002 and spent six months with a field training officer before starting to work on his own. He was fatally shot Friday afternoon June 13, 2003, during a routine traffic stop. His funeral June 20, 2003, was attended by US Marine and Navy honor guards and law agencies from across the nation. Also the funeral motorcade route was lined with thousands of people showing tribute and support to a fallen public service hero who was respected and well known as a fine person. Officer Tony Zeppetella lived in Oceanside for 5 years, his wife Jamie, son Jakob. His father Tony Sr, mother Renate, brother George and sister Renate survive him. He was only the second officer to be killed in the line of duty in Oceanside Police Department history. In August 2004, the California State Assembly passed order ACR No. 133 to make a portion of state route Hwy 76 a designated highway in his memory. On January 5, 2005, a dedication ceremony was held at the Oceanside Police faculty displaying the highway signs making a section of State Hwy 76 Oceanside, Tony Zeppetella Memorial Highway in his honor. Tony was inducted into the American Police Hall of Fame and posthumously awarded the Policeman's Medal of Honor on August 23, 2006.
